PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Raymond Espinal-Guzman had a career day, leading the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team to an 80-63 victory over New Hampshire for the team's first win of the season on Saturday evening. The Pioneers had four players score in double figures as they improved to 1-1 in the College Hill Classic at Brown this weekend. 

With a career-high in both points (16) and rebounds (11), Espinal-Guzman tallied his first career double-double. Amiri Stewart (15) and Mekhi Conner (11) scored a season-best, and Fallou Gueye tied his season-high of 12 points. 

Associate Head Coach Kyle Steinway led the Pioneers in the absence of Head Coach Anthony Latina. 

Records: 
Sacred Heart: 1-4
New Hampshire: 1-5

Leaders: 
Raymond Espinal-Guzman: 16 points, 11 rebounds 
Amiri Stewart: 15 points, 3 blocks 
Fallou Gueye: 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists 
Mekhi Conner: 11 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists  

Of Note: 
The Pioneers took control early, opening with a 10-2 through the first 2:14 of play, including four from Espinal-Guzman. The Wildcats pulled within five, but SHU answered with a 7-2 run, highlighted by an Aidan Carpenter triple to give the Pioneers a 10-point advantage, 17-7. 

New Hampshire pulled within five once again, but Stewart blocked a UNH three-point attempt, Conner came up with a quick rebound and immediately sent a long pass back down to Stewart for a fastbreak layup to put the Pioneers ahead by seven, 20-13, at 9:22. The Wildcats pulled within four, twice through the following two minutes but a layup for Stewart at 7:03, sparked a 7-0 run for the Pioneers to take their largest lead of the game so far, 29-18. 

With 1:13 left in the half, SHU had a nine-point advantage. New Hampshire scored five straight to pull within four, but the Pioneers held a 37-33 lead at the break.

New Hampshire scored the first five of the second half to take its first lead of the game, 39-37, but with a Stewart dunk and Gueye triple, the Pioneers took back the lead. The Wildcats were able to pull within one, but a layup from Nyle Ralph-Beyer sparked a 10-0 run that gave Sacred Heart an 11-point edge, 54-42, capped by a Conner triple to force a New Hampshire timeout at 14:00 in the second. 

Back-to-back layups for Stewart gave the Pioneers a 15-point advantage, 61-46. New Hampshire pulled within single digits once, with 7:25 remaining in the game, but Sacred Heart led by 10, or more through the remainder of the game to take the 80-63 final.

Sacred Heart outrebounded UNH, 44-22 and scored 15 points off of New Hampshire turnovers. 

Up Next: 
Sacred Heart will wrap up the College Hill Classic on Sunday evening, taking on the hosts, Brown, at 6 pm.